The remand population in Ghana has reduced from 33% in 2007 to 10.8%.
In an interview, Jonathan Osei Owusu, a leading advocate for prison reform highlighted the impact of the Justice for All Programme, initiated in 2007, on this reduction.
Despite this progress, he noted that congestion in prisons remains a critical issue.
“The remand population has moved from 33% during the Justice for All Programme in 2007 to 10.8%,” Osei Owusu stated.
He emphasized the importance of continued efforts to address prison congestion, explaining that “together with the Judiciary and other stakeholders, we have championed the Non-custodian Sentencing Regimes, which critically among them is the community service.”
This approach aims to provide alternatives to incarceration for minor offenses, thus alleviating the burden on prisons.
Osei Owusu called on the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General to expedite the process of passing the Community Service Bill.
“We have been able to get the draft bill, and the Ministers responsible have forwarded it to cabinet,” he said. “We are praying and calling on the Minister… to expedite action at the cabinet level so that the bill can be put before parliament.”
He highlighted the potential benefits of community service, including cost savings for the government and meaningful reform for offenders.
